Makarov serial #'s - The Firing Line Forums. Where is the serial number located on a 9mm makarov. What is a browning highpower 9mm with German markings and all same serial numbers worth. Pistol Makarov 9 mm - Classification: Manufacturer Allocation Marks on the Weapon. Serial numbers: Arsenal, Bulgaria Baikal, Russia Norinco, China.

East German production of the Makarov pistol began in the late 1950s and continued until 1965—a relatively brief production run. Samples made in 1958-1959 are the most difficult for collectors to find. The East German Makarov, also known as the Pistol M, or PM, is a fascinating relic of the Cold War era. While the Makarov pistol was originally designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union, it was also produced by other communist countries including China, Bulgaria and, most relevant here, East Germany. The East German variant was considered a rarity in the past, but after the collapse of the erstwhile nation in 1990, many of these pistols were imported into the United States where they found their way into the hands of shooters and collectors as military surplus.

The Makarov Is Born The story of the East German Makarov begins, of course, with the Soviet Makarov. The Makarov was originally designed by Nikolay Fyedorovich Makarov, a prominent young Soviet arms designer. After World War II, the Soviets started the process of selecting a new service pistol to replace the TT-33 (Tula Tokarev 33). Several different designs were submitted for evaluation including ones by Makarov, Korovin, Rakov, Simonov, Sevryugin, Voyevodin and Baryshev.

Ultimately, the Makarov was picked as the design that best met the specifications, and it was officially designated the PM (Pistol Makarov). The PM was the Soviet service pistol from the time it was adopted in 1951 until about 1991. There has been speculation that the pistol and the 9 mm Makarov cartridge were strongly influenced by the Walther PP pistol and the experimental 9 mm Ultra cartridge given that the Russians had access to the Walther factory at the end of World War II. However, the extent to which these earlier Walther designs impacted the development of the Makarov pistol and its cartridge has not been documented. The “K100” mark is found on all East German Makarovs and is an inspection acceptance mark.

The “AY” lettercode on the slide dates this pistol’s manufacture to 1961. East German Production Begins Most Communist Bloc/Warsaw Pact countries manufactured and used arms similar to that of the Soviet Union, and East Germany was no exception. For example, East Germany made its own variants of the AKM and SKS rifles, as well as the Makarov. One source indicates that the East German Model PM was built under license at the Ernst Thalmann manufacturing plant in Suhl, Germany. It is unclear exactly when production began, but it appears that prototypes were made starting in 1958. The early pistols were manufactured using some die cast parts that exhibited breakage, therefore the factory reverted back to using machined parts fairly early in the production run.

It has been reported that plant officials were actually imprisoned for the problems related to the faulty manufacturing methods. It appears that very few of the pistols made in 1958 and 1959 have survived based on the limited numbers seen. The manufacturing issues apparently were worked out and production continued through 1965, making for a relatively brief production run. It is worth noting that several hundred commercial Makarov pistols were made from leftover East German parts and, possibly, some new parts in the mid-1990s. These “post-unification” pistols are marked “Simson-Suhl” and are essentially commercial versions of the military guns. The only difference is that the hammer was modified to allow the slide to be retracted when the safety is in the “on” position. Some were imported and sold in the United States in the 1990s and bear the importer marking “CDI Swan.

An armorer’s parts kit, a wooden container that holds a variety of tools and gauges for the handgun, is a desirable accessory for today’s Makarov collector. What Makes The Makarov Tick The East German Makarov is a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol of blowback design that has a magazine capacity of eight rounds. All have a rich blue/black finish on the frame, slide and many of the small parts. Most have a brown-to-plum-colored safety, hammer and extractor, although some have a mottled finish. It is believed that these parts have a brownish coloration due to finish being applied after they were hardened.